Sunday, March 13, 2011

Blanche

I baked a buttermilk pie last night, and carried a couple of slices across the lane to give to cousin Blanche. Of course, sitting and chatting was more important than the pie. In time the conversation turned to the Civil War. Blanche reminded me that three Ocracoke schooners were in Charleston harbor when Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter. One vessel, the Paragon, was under the command of Blanche's great grandfather, Horatio Williams. There is a wonderful story of how Captain Williams slipped out of the harbor under cover of dark, fog, and rain...and how he sank his boat to keep it out of the hands of the north...and the south. Look for the full story in an upcoming Ocracoke Newsletter.

Another schooner, the Star, was captained by Blanche's grandfather, Perry Coleman Howard, and owned by his brother, Abner Bennett Howard.

Blanche was distressed that she couldn't remember the name of the third vessel. "I can't understand why you can't remember the name of the third schooner," I said, furrowing my brow at Blanche. "It only happened one hundred and fifty years ago!"

All good stuff! Thanks for reminding us that a delicious home-baked buttermilk pie and sitting down to good, old-fashioned conversation with an interesting lady, like Blanche, makes the saying, "It's the simple joys of life which matter the most!" oh so true!